Curtain or shade holder.



PATENTED AUG. 2, 1904.

H. H. FORSYTH.

CURTAIN 0R SHADE HOLDER.

APPLICATION FILED NOV.2,1903.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

NO MODEL.

No. 766,682. PATENTBD AUG. 2, 1904.

H. H. PORSYTH.

GURTAIN 0R SHADE HOLDER.

v APPLIUATION rum) nov. 2, 1903. no MODEL. 2 sums-sum 2.

UNITED STATES Patented August 2, 1904.

HENRY H. FORSYTH, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

CURTAIN OR SHADE HOLDER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 766,682, dated August 2, 1904.

Application filed November 2,1903. Serial No. 179,541. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, HENRY H. FoRsY'ru, a citizen of the United States, residing at Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Curtain or Shade Holders, of which the following is a specification.

Hy invention relates to a device for frictionally retaining a shade or curtain in any desired position against the tendency of its actuating means to withdraw the same by rolling it up on the usual roller or otherwise.

llIore particularly. my invention relates to that class of shade-holding devices in which the shade is mounted upon a spring-actuated retracting device, such as a roller, at one end and is provided with friction devices at its other end or intermediate its ends adapted to engage grooves in the window or other frame, which friction devices are normally maintained in frictional contact with one or more walls of said grooves when the curtain is at rest and slide in and longitudinally of said grooves when the curtain is being adjusted from one position to another.

In a pending application filed by me on the 5th day of January, 1903, Serial No. 137,811, I have disclosed a curtain or shade holder of this general type, having as its chief distinguishing novel characteristics the provision of a transversely-elastic shade-stick, the ends whereof 01' heads carried thereby are adapted to engage the side walls of grooves in the window-frame and are capable of release by compression of the stick.

My present invention embodies the generic principle of the invention constituting the subject-matter of the application above referred to; and it consists of improvements thereon having relation more particularly to a novel means and manner of supporting the stick in or from the curtain, so that the latter shall constitute to a greater or less extent a hinge for the parts or elements of the stick, affording greater facility and economy in the labor and cost of attaching the parts of the stick to the curtain, and to a novel head, which has the double character of a friction member and spring to render said friction member operative to perform its intended function.

My invention also relates to the combination, with such a head, of means whereby the same may be adjusted longitudinally of the stick to accommodate variations in the width of the window or other frame or in the depth of the groove.

My invention in approved mechanical embodiments thereof is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein Figure 1 is a front elevational view, broken away and partly in section, of a windowframe and curtain having a simple form of my invention applied thereto. Fig. 2 is a cross-sectional view of the same through the curtain and frame on a horizontal plane above the shade-stick. Fig. 3 is an enlarged detail vertical sectional view through the curtain and shade stick, more particularly illustrating one means and manner of hinging the twin parts of the shade-stick to the curtain, as well as one means which may be employed for normally separating them. Fig. 4 is a fragmentary elevational view, partly in section and generally similar to Fig. 1, of a feature of my invention, according to which the twin members of the shade-stick are provided with heads, which latter embody in themselves the elastic element for securing the frictional holding effect. Fig. 5 is an enlarged cross-sectional view substantially on the line 5 5 of Fig. 4: looking in the direction of the arrow; and Figs. 6 and 7 are cross-sectional detail views similar to Fig. 3,1'llustrating modifications of the means and manner of suspending the twin members of the shadestick by a hinge connection from the shade or curtain.

Referring to the drawings, 10 designates the shade or curtain, in or from the lower marginal portion of which is suspended a shade-stick through the agency of which the lower end of the shade is capable of adjustment to any desired height or position in the frame and is maintained in such position through frictional engagement of the stick or heads carried thereby with grooves in the frame. In a usual form of these devices this shade-stick has heretofore consisted of a tubular rod in which was housed at opposite ends the stems of the friction-heads and their actuating-springs. In accordance with the invention disclosed in my prior application, hereinabove referred to, this shade-stick is a laterally-compressible one, in its preferred form consisting of a pair of relatively thin fiat bars hinged together along their upper margins and normally pressed apart by a spring member, so as to force the ends of the bars or heads carried thereby into frictional holding engagement with the side walls of the grooves.

My present invention utilizes a laterallycompressible shade-stick, as in my former invention, but embodies improvements in the means and mode of supporting the twin members of the stick in or from the shade and also improvements in the heads in accordance with which the latter are made to embody also the function of the elastic element under which the members of the shade-stick are normally pressed apart and the frictional holding effect is secured. To this end 11 and 12 designate the companion members of the shade-stick, which are herein shown as duplicates each of the other, disposed side by side insubstantially parallel relation. It is highly desirable that these twin members of the shade-stick be supported by the shade in such a manner as to leave them perfectly free in respect to lateral movement under the action of their separating spring, and this I may accomplish within the purview of the present invention in a variety of ways 'or mechanical forms, which are characterized generically by the provision of independent supporting connections between the companion members of the shade-stick and the shade or curtain by which the former are hinged to the latter with entire freedom of bodily movement toward and from each other. In Fig. 3 I have illustrated in detail one means and manner I may em ploy to secure such an independent mounting of the members of the stick, wherein the stock of the curtain itself constitutes the shade-stick supports and principal hinge members. Referring thereto, it will be seen that the lower portion of the shade 10 is first carried down around the outside of the strip 12, as shown.

- shown at 10 after which this margin is secured within the loop and the latter is united to the curtain by parallel rows of stitching 13 and let. It is evident that the curtain in this manner enveloping bars or stripsof the shadestick constitutes in connection with the stitching a hinge on which said bars or strips swing laterally, thus dispensing with metallic hinges, and thus making the curtain perform an additional function with little or no additional cost. It is also evident that thus the curtain can be first folded and sewed into the desired form and the bars pushed into place or withdrawn with ease, whereas were the bars attached to each other by metallic hinges it would be much more difficult and expensive to connect them properly with the curtain.

I/Vhere bars or strips of considerable width, such as those herein shown, are employed, the ends of these bars or strips may themselves constitute the friction-heads, as shown in Figs.

strips 11 and 12, so as to produce the necessary holding effect of the latter in the grooves of the frame. In Figs. 1, 2, and 3 I have shown for this purposea strip of elastic metal15, bent back on itself and secured at one end to the inner face of one of the twin members of the shade-stick, (the strip 11'as herein shown,) its other end portion bearing against the opposite inner surface of the companion strip, for which purpose and to prevent wear the material of the shade constituting its sheath is cut .away opposite the point of bearing, as shown at 16. The lower depending portion of the spring-strip 15 may conveniently be given the circular formation shown to provide a convenient thumb and finger grasp for raising and lowering the curtain. It is to be observed, however, as a leading advantage of the device, that the action of the spring may be overcome and the frictional hold of the shade-stick released by grasping the latter at any point along its length and compressing the same.

In Figs. 4 and 5 of the drawings I have illustrated a feature of the invention which resides in the provision of friction-heads which embody within themselves not only the grooveengaging friction-surfaces, but also the means for rendering said friction-surfaces operative to control the position of the shade. Referring thereto, 11 and 12 designate the companion members of the shadestick, corresponding in function tothe parts 11 and 12 of Figs. 1, 2, and 3. To the opposite ends of these sticks are secured friction-heads 17, which are made of elastic metal, and in the form herein shown are of a narrow inverted- U shape and have their parallel straight portions thrust into frictional engagement with the side walls of the groove through the elas- 45 with.

1 to the shade-stick to compensate for variations in the width of the frame or in the depth of the groove.

Referring to Figs. 4 and 5, it willbe seen that the parallel straight members of the frictionheads 17 have inwardly-extending shanks, one

of which (designated by 17) is rigidly secured to the end of one of the strips, while the other corresponding shank takes the form of an inwardly-extending tubular member 17, adapted to receive and slidingly engage a rounded extension 11 of the lower margin of the other strip. The tubularmember17 may be readily and economically formed bysuitably bending or rolling up the flat integral shank of that side 5 of the head on which the tubular extension is formed, and the inner end of the latter may be flattened, as indicated at 17 to limit the inward movement of the head relatively to the stick. It will be understood that with one of the heads 3 17 thus rigidly united to the shade-stick member 12 and slidingly and adjustably engaging the shade-stick member 11 at one end of the shade-stick, as shown at the right in Fig. 1, the companion head 17 at the opposite end of the shade-stick will be rigidly connected to the shade-sti ck member 11 and slidingly and adjustably engaged with the shade-stick member 12 in the manner already described. This construction thus provides for a limited lon- 4 gitudinal adjustment of the total length of the shade-stick and its heads according to the length of the cylindrical portion of the guide 17 and of the rounded extension of that member of the shade-stick which cooperates there- Of course the cross-sectional form of the telescoping members last mentioned may be varied, if desired.

In Figs. 6 and T I have illustrated means for supporting the bars or strips from the cur- 5 tain by a hinge connection with the latter, in

which said bars are not enveloped by the material of the curtain itself, but which embody the principle and secure all the advantages of the invention as hereinabove described. Re-

5 5 ferring to Fig. 6, it will be seen that each of at 19 and 20, to the lower end of the curtain.

The sheaths 18 may be made of the same stock or material as the curtain itself, or they may be made of other material, such as an ornamental leather or the like.

Fig. 7 illustrates a somewhat simpler embodiment of the same principle, which does not involve the complete covering of the twin members of the shade-stick. the invention it will be observed that the lower margin of the curtain (indicated by 10) is secured directly to the upper margin of one of the strips 11 and 12, as by a series of rivets 21, while similarly secured by rivets 22 to the corresponding margin of the opposite or companion bar is a strip of flexible material 23, preferably a piece of the same material or stock as the curtain itself, which strip 23 is united to the curtain slightly above the upper margins of the bars 11 and 12 by any suitable means, such as the rows of stitching 19 and 20. The bars 11 and 12 may be normally separated by any suitable elastic means-such, for instance, as the inverted-U- shaped spring 24. This last-described form of the invention is especially available and suitable where the twin members of the shadestick are made of a finished or ornamental metal or other material not requiring to be covered for the sake of a neat and attractive appearance.

It is to be understood that in the accompanying drawings 1 have not attempted to show all of the mechanical forms in which the spirit of my invention may be embodied, the forms shown being merely illustrative of the embodiments I prefer to employ as yielding the best results which I have as yet obtained.

(Vithout limiting myself, therefore, to specific details of construction, what I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-- 1. The combination with a shade or curtain, and a two-part transversely compressible and expansible shade-stick, of a flexible connection whereby the parts of said stick are independently suspended from said shade and means for expanding the parts, substantially as described.

2. The combination with a shade or curtain, and a two-part shade-stick the parts or elements of which are disposed side by side, of a hinge connection whereby the parts of said stick are independently suspended from said shade, and elastic means normally tending to force apart the elements of the shade-stick, substantially as described.

3. The combination with a shade or curtain, and a two-part shade-stick, of a pair of shadestick-reeeiving loops or sheaths suspended side by side from said shade by a flexible connection with the latter along their upper margins, and elastic means normally tending to spread apart said shade-stick elements, substantially as described.

4. The combination with a shade or curtain having the material thereof folded and united to form thereon a pair of shade-stick-reeeiving loops or sheaths secured together along their upper margins, of a two-part shade-stick In this form of the members whereof are respectively contained in said loops, and means normally tending to spread apart said loops and the members of the shade-stick carried thereby, substantially as described.

5. The combination with a shade or curtain having the lower end portion thereof folded and united to form thereon at its lower end a pair of shade-stick-receiving loops or sheaths flexibly connected together along their upper margins, of a two-part shade-stick themembers whereof are respectively contained in said loops, and a spring normally tending to spread apart said loops and the members of the shadestick carried thereby, substantially as described.

6. The combination with a shade or curtain having its lower end portion folded and stitched transversely thereof to form thereon a pair of connected shade-stick-receiving loops or sheaths, of a two-part shade-stick the members whereof are respectively contained in said loops, and elastic means normally tending to spread apart said loops and the members of the shade-stick carried thereby, substantially as described.

7 The combination with a shade or curtain having its lower end portion folded and stitched transversely thereof to form thereon a pair of parallel shade-stick-receiving loops or sheaths disposed side by side and connected only along their upper margins, of a two-part shade-stick the members whereof are respectively contained in said loops, and elastic means normally tending to spread apart said loops and the members of the shade-stick carried thereby, substantially as described.

8. A shade-stick comprising a pair of Iongitudinally-extending members, and expansible friction-heads carried by the ends of said members and movable by transverse compression of the latter, substantially as described.

9. A shade-stick comprising a pair of longitudinally extending members and transversely-elastic friction-heads the frictionallyengaging parts of each of which are respectively connected to the adjacent ends of said longitudinally extending members and are movable by transverse compression of said members, substantially as described.

10. A shade-stick comprising a pair of longitudinally-extending members, and elastic friction-heads mounted on the ends of said members and movable by transverse compression of the latter, said friction-heads being also adjustable longitudinally of the shadestick, substantially as described.

11. A shade-stick comprising a pair of longitudinally extending members and transversely-elastic friction-heads the frictionallyengaging parts of each of which have respectively a fixed and longitudinally-adjustable connection with the adjacent ends of said longitudinally-extending members and are movable by transverse compression of said members, substantially as described.

' HENRY H. FORSYTH.

Witnesses:

CoRY W. DUDLEY, W. H. FoRsYTH. 

